Recount Confirms School Board Winners, Raises Budget and Equity Questions
A narrow Middletown Board of Education race prompted an automatic recount that confirmed Democrat Kelly Bee as a winner and left Dean Krupa with the most votes. The results matter to local families because the newly seated board will face lingering budget pressures after a $2.3 million cut earlier this year that affects programs and services for students.
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Voters in Middletown learned Monday that a routine recount at City Hall resolved one of the closest school board contests in recent memory, and set the stage for contested budget decisions in the coming months. The recount was triggered after election night returns showed just 22 votes separating Democratic candidates Kelly Bee and Alex Cohen. After officials retallied ballots, Bee finished with 6,000 votes while Cohen totaled 5,970. Dean Krupa led all candidates with 6,101 votes.
The finalized results give Democrats two seats on the board, with Dean Krupa and Kelly Bee emerging as the top Democratic finishers. On the Republican side Chris Cardella and Kim Riordan earned seats with 3,689 and 3,427 votes respectively. The narrow margins and the mix of party representation will shape how the board addresses longstanding financial strains and community priorities.
The results take on particular weight in Middletown because the district has navigated a $2.3 million budget cut earlier this year. That reduction has already influenced staffing decisions, program availability, and planning for next school year budgets. With new members joining a board that must balance limited resources and growing community needs, residents will be watching for how priorities are set and which services are protected.
Board composition affects more than curricula and facility maintenance. Decisions about how to allocate scarce dollars influence class sizes, support services for students with special needs, school mental health and nursing resources, and programs that address food security and equitable access to extracurricular opportunities. Low income families and students who rely on school based services are often the most vulnerable when budget choices are made.
The recount process itself underscores the impact of every ballot in local races. Election officials conducted the count at City Hall to ensure accuracy and public confidence, and the small shift in totals after review illustrates how close elections can be. For residents, the episode is a reminder that local participation matters and that municipal election procedures are integral to democratic accountability.
Looking ahead the Middletown Board of Education will have to craft a budget response that reflects both fiscal constraints and community values. The new board will inherit the task of stabilizing finances while striving to maintain equitable access to services that support student health and learning. For families and community advocates, the next meetings will be an important opportunity to engage, to advocate for transparent budget decisions, and to press for policies that safeguard the most at risk students in the district.
